The Battles of the Captains

Like most Red Bull activations, this was put on not to purely increase the bottom line, or directly contribute to sales; but rather a celebration for and of the people that make up a community. It’s this communal feeling that was evident at the event, that after a tough year, a night of dance and debauchery can help forge connectedness and hopefulness for years to come. This is a pillar of the brand, to ignite a shared group of individuals and give back to those that make up a community; In this case it was the hospitality workers of the Chicago area, and we were there too.

Check out the scenes from the warehouse party below.

Culture

Breathwork in Bushwick

May 13, 2024

In the heart of Bushwick at 99 Scott Avenue, office hosted a breathwork class led by the renowned Manoj Dias, co-founder of Open. Participants gathered with a sense of anticipation and a hint of skepticism. Drawing a diverse crowd ranging from seasoned practitioners to curious newcomers, the class was designed to welcome those of all experience levels to embark on a journey within through the power of their own natural breath.

Dias, a seasoned guide in the realm of breathwork and mindfulness, led the session with a gentle yet confident demeanor. His soothing voice resonated in the spacious room as he guided participants through a series of breathwork exercises. With each inhale and exhale, the group embarked on an inward journey, exploring the depths of their consciousness.

By Simon Rasmussen
Images office

The turnout was a true reflection of Bushwick's diverse community, with people from various backgrounds, industries, and walks of life coming together for a shared experience. Despite the mixed initial response, there was a unanimous acknowledgment of the profound effects of breathwork. As the session progressed, a handful of participants found themselves overwhelmed with emotion, even shedding tears of release. Each participant emerged from the session with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose, having tapped into a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

As the class came to an end, participants slowly reentered the streets of Bushwick with a shared sense of gratitude. In a world often filled with chaos and uncertainty, the simple act of paying close attention to one's breathing can become a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.

Culture

"Oh, to be Björk's MacBook."

May 13, 2024

Björk's DJ set was already infamous before it happened. Featuring sets from certified techno royalty Eartheater, Jlin, Mun Sing, Sega Bodega, and Shygirl in addition to two sets of her own, Björk brought everyone out to what was essentially Bushwick Coachella. For a night put on by Bowery Presents, we all showed up, rain or shine, $100 tickets or guestlist. A friend of mine told me they skipped on that week's groceries to be able to see her. We were like religious devotees, platform boots stomping through mud in an almost Biblical march. Björk's cathedral of choice? The K Bridge. "My nipples are hard," said one guest upon entry — whether it was because of the cold or excitement was unclear.

Apologies to whoever came to see DJ Björk (DJörk) spin a classic Friday night club mix: her long-awaited return to Brooklyn was clasically experimental and incomprehensible in the way that made us fall in love with her in the first place. At least in the city, her cult-following is too dedicated for her to be obscure, but her artistic choices are opaque enough for us to be hypnotized into wondering what exactly goes on in her mind. Behind me, one fan sighed, "Oh, to be Björk's MacBook," to which another responded, "She doesn't even have processing power. Her laptop just runs on dreams and, like, an elf on a treadmill."

By Izzy Capulong
Photos Santiago Felipe

My camera breaks after Björk's first set and I think she put a spell on all the tech in the area that made her impossible to photograph — which makes sense for her. All the pictures I tried to take ended up looking like found footage or Bigfoot sighting photos, but I think she wants it that way. Her masked ensemble (courtesy of Noir Kei Ninomiya and James Merry) made someone wonder aloud, "Is that even her?" While she stayed hidden for the most part, only occasionally popping out from behind leaves to erratically dance and thrash around, the Björk touch was undeniable. Who else is mixing hymns, soundbites of hysteric laughter, and Megan Thee Stallion?

Culture

Miami F1 With HUGO

May 11, 2024

There probably isn’t a better time to be in the 305 than during Formula 1 Miami. There's a blissful excitement felt across the activations, dinners, parties (and afterparties) over the weekend, all leading up to the race on Sunday, F1 cultivates an eclectic intersection where motorsport lovers, editors, celebrities, influencers, natives, come together to celebrate. Three months after announcing its partnership as the official apparel and eyewear partner of the Visa Cash App Red Bull (VCARB) F1 team, German powerhouse HUGO set up shop in Wynwood transforming UNKNWN into an all-red pop-up modeled after a traditional mechanics' workshop. The space was christened with a rowdy Boiler Room party on Friday night attended by VCARB team drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda and a slew of talent and internet celebrities (like Avantika Vandanapu, Drumaq, Gabbriette Bechtel and Swae Lee) dressed in bold black and red HUGO ensembles from the new RB collab.

Photography by Sahir Ahmed

Beyond aesthetics, with its selection of boxy oversized tees, jackets, and collaborative Alpinestars racing suits onview, the pop-up was also experiential. At the HUGO GARAGE, attendees could take photos with a life-sized replica of the VCARB car, customize their own merch with spikes and gears, design a T-shirt with a selection of screen prints and colors from artist Jordan Watts, or airbrush a HUGO scent bottle. There was also a F1-inspired arcade-style racing set up by LOVE RACING and where attendees could compete in races by remotely controlling miniature cars to see who could achieve the fastest lap. But of course, at any Boiler Room event, it all comes back to the music. DJ sets by Sel. 6, El Gusano, and V1FRO, and performances by La Goony Chonga and Ivy Queen amped us up for the weekend in just a few hours. The outside bar pumping out drinks and Cuban snacks: empanadas, croquettas, and mini-Cuban sandwiches, kept us fed and hydrated. Not even a five minute rain shower could stop people from crowding the decks to dance.

Images courtesy Hugo Boss

As Saturday came in, HUGO didn't miss a beat in keeping the momentum going, partnering with AFROFUTURE to close out the weekend with a festival that honored Miami's Afro-Caribbean influence. There were DJ sets by TxC, Ethan Thomas, MC Lolahsti and a performance by Afrobeats artist Victony. Then came the main event on Sunday, HUGO and a select group geared up to support VCARB racers Daniel and Yuki. It was bittersweet when McLaren crossed the finish line first.

Here's a peek at what went down night one below.